STREAM
Nothing Is Sacred
56%
- David G.
Eisley (V)
Peter Scheithauer (G)
Bob Daisley (B)
Eric Singer (D)
- FRONTIERS RECORDS - 1998
FILE 2 |
STREAM
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| This is a sort
of supergroup featuring some well-known luminaires like
Bob Daisley (ex-Ozzy), Eric Singer (ex-Kiss), David G.
Eisley (ex-Giuffria) and a really good german (I think)
guitarrist named Peter Scheithauer. But not always a good
typist is a good writer, and this record is simply
hookless. You listen to it and, of course, there are good
players but it just hasn't the songs. "Nothing is
Sacred" offers a straightforward piece of American
metal including some heavy riffs and drum lines. Probably
not something for the standard AOR fan. Opener "Chasin' The Dragon" is a stormy rocker and quite possibly the best in the album. The fourth track is a classic heavy metal track but I just do not find something catchy as some of you can easily find in other metal acts like Helloween, Gamma Ray or Hammerfall... Stream is nearer band like Sabbath but also adding some 90's metal touches. David G. Eisley seems tight in this music style and some distorsions on the vocals don't make him any favour. To conclude, I am not going to recommend this at least you are a fan of metal or the heaviset end of hard rock. In this case Scream is going to be an average addition to your discography. Perhaps,something more was expected from this line-up. |
HEARTLAND
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| Fifth release of one of the finest melodic rock bands in the United Kingdom. In fact, "Miracles By Design" follows the progression started by "III" towards a more mature sound and a better composing style. Opener "Into the Fire" is supreme melodic rock with twisty keyboards and a big chorus. Probably the highlight of the album. "Total Eclipse " has a nice guitar soloing by Steve Morris (ex-Gillian) and it is also one of the most AOR tracks here. Chris Ousey vocals shine in every song, something that comes as no surprise if we take into account that he is one of the most powerful and full-of-feeling vocalists of our genre. By the way some of the guys involved in Chris ultimate project called "The Distance" are involved in the recording: John Counsel (Keys), Dave Hopia (Bass) and as a very especial guest Kenny "Kaos" Loney which was the other half in "The Distance" and has also played with Pokerface. I am also glad to see that it is pretty difficult to find a single track that we could call a filler. The whole album stands on a high level and each listen becomes the discovery of a new spot to keep your hears on. Definetly, "Miracles By Design" confirm Hearland as a classic act, it is well written, well-produced, good tunes...Miss it at your own risk. |
AMAZE ME
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| This is the reedition of the first album, that was originally released by Japanese label Alfa/Brunette, of the Swedih act Amaze Men which features ex-State Of Mind Conny Lind on vocals and the multi instrumentalist and Warner top writer Peter Broman. Those who loved the second album (first release!) of this band ("Dream On") will enjoy this one even more. This is pure Melodic Rock with catchy arena-rock tunes, the guitars, the keyboards...everything is there! Although we are talking about a Sweden-based band the sound is amazingly American, some of the hooks like the ones on "You Say You Never Cry", "Fair Warning" or "Dream Long Distance" certify it. The main problem that I see here is that in the final mix there is a total lack of band sound. Yes, Peter Broman is a very good player but everything is recorded separetly and no live feeling appears along the record. Anyway the quality and strengh of the songwriting stands above this and only a couple of tracks, like the opener "Gods Gift To Women" are below the average of the other songs. Once again, lovers of "Dream On" must buy this others should take a look at one of the most promising acts in the MR. |
STREET TALK
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| I already know
this has been out for many months, but in the middle of a
strike of the Spanish Mail service, a solitary big
envelope reached my box and I wasn't quite sure who was
the sender. When I opened it it happenned to be Fredrik
Bergh (thanks Fredrik!) the composer, producer and
keyboardist of this debuting Swedish AOR act which blends
a smart combination of Westcoast (a la Think Out Loud),
plus some Journey/Steve Perry elements all dessed with
this typical Scandinavian AOR arrangements. Though this is quite soft and 5 out of 10 songs are actually ballads, I wouldn't call it Westcoast, in fact it comes closer to the lighter end of AOR but without crossing the border with the former style. The cd starts with the magnificient chorus of a rocker track called "Walk Away from Love" which delivers great keys by Mr. Bergh and it is among the best tracks in "Collaboration". The next two songs are ballads sung by ex-Malmsteen ace Goran Edman: "If you say it's Over" has some soaring backing vocals and "Standing in the Rain" is the closest thing to WestCoast and better tune than the previous one. Fourth tracks starts in a style very similar to Steve Perry's "You Better Wait" and from this point we can easily realize that this guys have learnt a couple of things from the AOR kings, especially guitarrist Andreas Lidberg who shows in the pair of instrumental tunes ("Among Friends" and "Borrowed Time") that he has been influenced by Neal Schon's soloing in many ways. "In the Eyes of a Woman" is a very groovy tune featuring Daniel Jonsson, which I think was the original vocalist of the band. I just find one point to complaint in this album, there are ten songs but one is an acoustic version of the second track "If You Say It's Over", and two are instrumental tracks which are quite good but maybe we could have got something more. Anyway, this is a pretty good record and fans of softer Scandinavian AOR with a very good production, elegant musicianship and some Journey influences should check out "Collaboration". |
HUMAN RACE
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| Human Race come from Sweden. And quite possibly they are one of the finests acts that has tried to combine "modern" elements of the actual scene and mix them with melody, good musicianship and all these features that belong to our "dated" Melodic Rock, "a 90's twist" as Z Records promo paper says. Well, hints of Clockwise, Shotgun Symphony, Talisman...pop here and there along this album but for AOR purists this will be no compliment. So what we have here is a good record and very good players, as it shows the instrumental piece "Mothership" filled with an espectacular duell between guitars and keys which is pretty breathtaking. Also "The Web" is a reallly well-written tune, in my opinion the best in this debut album (Votes for the Top Ten?). "Into The Light", the seventh track, is something that could have been included in Talisman's "Life" opus and even vocalist Stefano Marchesini has similarities with J.S. Soto although Stefano sings a little a little more straightforward hard rock . "Don't Look Back" has a great chorus sorrounded by some of the most powerful guitars you are likely to hear in a MR record. The fifth cut, "Them", has a very introspective and obscure mood very much into a David Bowie style and also sorrounded by some femenine backing vocals. In general, this is a hard rock album with good melodies, but do not expect something that will catch you at the first listen. Human Race songs are mature and if you are open to a new direccion for your melodic rock you should own this, but if you are one of those who still love it's AOR with it's obvious melodies and its guitars and keyboards not very raw you should better spend your cash in other release. All in all a worth listening debut. |
FRANKE & THE KNOCKOUTS
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| One of the most awaited records cames out for the first time on cd thanks to Escape Music. Franke Previte is a bit of an institution in the music world having won a Golden Globe and an Oscar for his song "(I've Had) The Time Of My Life" which was the main track in Patrick Swayze's "Dirty Dancing". The Knockouts was his band after he decided to spend his time writting for movie soundtracks and with them he released 3 albums(s/t, "Below the Belt" and "Makin' The Point"). Sincerely, I think I have heard so big things from this release that I suppose I expected a huge album with 10 classic songs and 40 minutes of non-stop orgasm.But it isn't, it is just a very good album of pure American 80's AOR, it has memorable moments like the opener track "Outrageous" or the fifth cut called "Carrie Why?" but there are also not-so-good songs like "Can't Get Enough Of You", but obviously highs overtake lows. Also the bonus track which is Franke's original version of "Hungry Eyes" also included in "Dirty Dancing" is a really wonderful addition. In the credits of the album we find luminaires like Tico Torres (Bon Jovi), Bobby Messano (Joe Lynn Turner), Jeff Porcaro (Toto) or the studio musician Nathan East. This is a record that nobody interested in 80's AOR should miss and the same goes for the other two Franke's discs that will be also released by Escape sometime this year. |
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